'Next To Impossible For Pilot To Drop Plane 300 Feet': Experts On Air India Delhi-Phuket Turbulence

Published 9 August 2026 · local

News india 'Next To Impossible For Pilot To Drop Plane 300 Feet': Experts On Air India Delhi-Phuket Turbulence 'Next To Impossible For Pilot To Drop

News india 'Next To Impossible For Pilot To Drop Plane 300 Feet': Experts On Air India Delhi-Phuket Turbulence 'Next To Impossible For Pilot To Drop Plane 300 Feet': Experts On Air India Delhi-Phuket Turbulence Published By, Last Updated: August 09, 2026, 12:48 IST Air India Phuket-Delhi flight lost 300 feet during severe turbulence. Experts weigh in on whether pilot impairment could explain the sudden altitude loss. Rapid Read Air India flight AI2379 experienced a sudden loss of approximately 300 feet during severe turbulence on August 4. (Photo) The Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that suddenly lost around 300 feet in altitude during severe turbulence has raised questions over what happened inside the aircraft, particularly after reports that the pilots underwent post-flight screening for psychoactive substances. However, aviation experts have cautioned against drawing a direct link between the aircraft’s sudden altitude loss and possible pilot impairment. In their assessment, a 300-foot drop during severe turbulence should not, by itself, be interpreted as evidence that a pilot was under the influence of alcohol or another psychoactive substance. Some experts have said that it could be a “wind-shear issue", while also arguing that it would be extremely difficult for a pilot impaired by alcohol to cause such an altitude drop in the circumstances described. The comments, however, do not establish wind shear as the confirmed cause of the incident. The exact circumstances behind the aircraft’s sudden altitude variation were being investigated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Air India Mid-Air Drop: Experts Question Link Between Alcohol And Turbulence According to the experts cited, it would be highly unlikely to simply attribute a sudden 300-foot altitude loss to a pilot having consumed alcohol. They assessed that an aircraft encountering severe atmospheric conditions can experience sudden changes in altitude, and that the reported drop should be examined in the context of the turbulence and other flight parameters. The experts also questioned the assumption that a pilot under the influence would deliberately or intentionally cause such a dramatic altitude change. They stressed that the circumstances of the incident need to be established through the available operational evidence rather than speculation. The aircraft was flying from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when it encountered severe turbulence while flying over Odisha. The Airbus A320 subsequently experienced a sudden loss of approximately 300 feet in altitude before stabilising and continuing towards Delhi. At least 17 people, including four cabin crew members, suffered injuries in the incident. Four crew members were among those who required hospital treatment. Captain CS Randhawa: ‘Premature To Claim A Positive Result’ Amid reports that the pilot may have tested positive for psychoactive substances, Captain CS Randhawa, President of the Federation of Indian Pilots, also urged caution. Speaking to ANI, Randhawa said it had emerged that the pilot underwent a psychoactive substance test after the aircraft landed in Delhi. But he stressed that there was no confirmation that the test had returned a positive result.